Town councillor leaves Sinn Fein

Strabane councillor Gerard Foley has resigned from Sinn Fein.

Mr Foley, who was first elected in 2005, will continue to sit as an independent member on the County Tyrone council.

Mr Foley said his former colleagues tried to persuade him not to leave the party and rumours that claim he was pushed out were untrue.

"I'm still a councillor and I will continue to work hard to represent the people that elected me," he said.

"I took the decision myself, maybe in six-months I'll look back and think it was the wrong one but I can live with that."

In a statement the Sinn Fein group on Strabane District Council said they were "deeply disappointed and saddened at the announcement".

It continued: "While Gerard has not provided the party with any clear rationale for his decision we would nonetheless like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution both as a party activist and councillor, and wish him well for the future. "

Through the statement the party said they would expect Mr Foley to "honour the Sinn Fein mandate he was elected upon by making way for a party co-option".